Background
The Waverley Development Control Plan (DCP) supports the controls outlined in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) with more specific planning and design guidelines including built form controls, parking, biodiversity and tree preservation, signage, heritage conservation and safety.
The DCP provides guidelines for new residential development as well as alterations and extensions. It also details general controls for commercial developments, but identifies areas where more specific guidelines apply, such as the Bondi Junction centre, the Bondi beachfront area and the local villages.
Supplementary to the Waverley DCP and LEP, Council also has other guidelines that provide additional guidance.
Council continually reviews its planning policies and creates new ones, to ensure these documents are fit for purpose and up to date. As part of this process, we are seeking feedback from the community on a number of proposed changes.
Changes to the Waverley DCP 2022
Several housekeeping and minor changes are proposed across a number of chapters of the DCP, inclusive of minor wording adjustments, removing inconsistencies, clarifications and updated references to Australian Standards, websites, studies and policies.
A number of changes to trading hours are proposed, including:
- Allowing the Tea Gardens Hotel at 4A Bronte Road, Bondi Junction to trade until 3.00am, the same hours in the Oxford Street Mall.
- Introducing New Year’s eve trading hours to facilitate businesses trading between 10.00pm on New Year’s Eve and 1.00am on New Year’s Day to contribute to the night time economy.
- Updating the term 'extended' trading hours to the more correct ‘reviewable' hours to better reflect the intent and application of these controls.
A number of changes are proposed, but not limited to:
- Clarification on building height calculations in relation to basements.
- Clarifications for side setbacks on sloping sites.
- Clarification that new first floor additions should reflect the style and form of any adjoining semi-detached 1st floor additions of a semi-detached dwelling.
- Clarifications that general residential controls do also apply to semi-detached new builds.
A number of changes are proposed, including:
- Ensuring new commercial developments can accommodate the requirements being progressively introduced by the State Government from July 2026.
- Ensuring new residential development can accommodate the future needs incorporating the organics collection element when implemented in line with the 2030 FOGO mandate deadline.
A number of changes are proposed, but not limited to:
- Changes to bicycle parking rates/requirements are being proposed, inclusive of increased bicycle parking rates required and changes to storage requirements to facilitate more practical outcomes for residents in storing and securing their bikes.
- Other minor, mostly housekeeping changes.
Changes are also being proposed to footpath seating, including removing requirements relating to footpath seating out of the DCP 2022 and into a separate guideline.
These changes are being exhibited at the same time as the changes discussed on this page, you can find out more about those proposed changes on the relevant Have Your Say page. If adopted, all of the collective proposed changes to the DCP will form Amendment 5 to the Waverley DCP 2022.
Solar Panels and Heritage guideline
Increasing the use of solar panels in Waverley is an important part of Council meeting its net zero aspirations by 2035.
To help support the increased uptake of rooftop solar, a guideline has been produced to guide residents on how to install solar panels on buildings in heritage conservation areas and on heritage items.
Residents who follow this process will be able to apply for a heritage exemption certificate, allowing for a simpler and more cost effective process than a development application (DA).
Proposals which do not comply with the guidelines will still be required to submit a DA.
